Indicator-lock



(No Model.)

0. F. GREEN.

INDIGATOR LOOK.

N0. 342,295. Patented May 18, 1886.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CHARLES F. GREEN, OF HAMPTON, VIRGINIA.

INDICATOR-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,295, dated May 18, 1886. Application filed April 14,1886. Serial No. 198,863; (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. GREEN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Hampton, in the county of Elizabeth City and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicator-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form part ofthisspecification.

The invention relates to certain improvements in indicator-locks; and it has for its object to provide means to be employed in connection with any suitable lock to indicate whether the occupant of a room is out or in by the simple act of turning the key to lock or unlock the door, as more fully hereinafter specified.

The above-mentioned object I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a door, showing my improved lock applied thereto; and Fig. 2 represents an elevation of a portion of a door with a part of the indicator removed.

The letter A indicates the lock, which may be of the ordinary or any approved construction, and which is set in the edge of the door or secured to the door in any other convenient manner.

The letter B indicates a partially-rotating disk, which is provided with an opening or aperture, 0, which sets or is locatei directly over the keyhole of the look, so as to permit the key to be properly inserted into the lock. The said disk is provided with a curved slot, D, into which extends a pin, D, which limits the movement of the disk. E indicates two pins attached to the disk, with which the projection F of the key comes in contact, so as to rotate the disk properly. Over the disk is fastened a plate, G, by means of screws K passing through the lugs I. The said plate is provided with a key-hole, L, and at one side of the same with an opening, M. The disk at diametrically-opposite sides is marked with the words Out and In in such position as to fall under the opening M as the key is turned to lock or unlock the door and be exposed through the same.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood in connection with the above description, and is as follows: \Vhen the key is turned to lock the door, the disk is turned halfway, exposing the word Out. When turned in the opposite direction to unlock the door, the word In will be exposed. It will be seen that as thus constructed the proper words will be invariably exposed by the mere act of turning the key, involving no extra trouble and insuring the exposure, so that no forgetfulness on the part of the operator will prevent it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In an indicator-lock, a rotary disk having characters thereon, and an opening in its center for the passage of the key, and projections adapted to be engaged by a lug on said key, in combination with a covering-plate, G, provided with an opening, through which the characters on said disk may be alternately exposed When automatically operated by the action of the key in operating the look, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. GREEN.

Vitnesses:

E. H. BRADFORD, H. J. ENNIS. 

